A time in another world

Last Tuesday, I had to get up from bed hours earlier than my usual mid-morning wakeup time. "It better be worth this trouble!" I grumbled as I headed for the shower. The office was sending me on a go-see trip to a tiny islet off Mactan.

I've been to about fifty similar spots in these past few years, on projects with an international TV channel. This one couldn't be any different. I wasn't excited. Honestly, it was purely out of obedience than of curiosity that I agreed to go.

Ms. Angging of our marketing department was also going and she had arranged for Ferdi, our photographer, to join us. I had familiar company, at least. We met with Eva, our hospitable guide, somewhere uptown and then drove to Cordova town in Mactan, where we were to take a boat.

We had merry conversations on the road. But the real fun, for me, began when we reached the Cordova pier. We had to take off our shoes and wade through knee-deep waters to get onto a small boat. As the sea craft began to move away, the seawater slowly turned from transparent to deep blue.

The sunlight was very soft; you could stare at the sea without constricting your eyelids. It was a fine day. But not as fine as on most days, according to the boatman. Halfway to our destination, the waves began to grow bigger. "Time to start your prayers," I teased the group, as the boat began to rock. I was having fun; I'd been in much worse sea conditions before. Besides, from the expression on the boatman's face, I knew there was absolutely no cause for alarm.

In just 20-25 minutes, we were there. Gilutongan islet beamed like a waiting friend. We were more comfortable getting off the boat; the private docking facility in the area was much better than in Cordova. And more scenic, too. Concrete steps ushered us from down at the level of the water and up to a sturdy bridge that led right to a commodious wood-and-nipa structure overlooking the sea-Wings Grill and Restaurant. We settled ourselves at a bamboo table and ordered some drinks. Just as we were able to catch our breaths, groups of Korean tourists came in, one after the other. The place was full in no time. Then, an inviting whiff of food surged from the kitchen. It was time for lunch.

Their saang (a kind of shellfish) was amazing-so deliciously juicy and fresh. You pick it live from the basket and have it cooked the way you want. (We had ours grilled.) And when it's finally brought to your table, you couldn't help salivate at the mere sight of it. Aside from seafood, the Wings menu also has pork, chicken and Chinese-style dishes.

Groups that prefer to bring or cook their own food may also use the Wings kitchen and dining area, for a little fee. The restaurant is spacious enough to accommodate up to 200 persons or more. It's perfect for company picnics. Tour operators may also include Gilutongan in their island-hopping package, now that the place has been made more accessible and more comfortable for visitors.

Gilutongan is just a small dot of land in the sea. You can go around the whole islet in an hour or two, on foot and at a casual pace. At the other side from the docking area at Wings is the village. The population is about a thousand, mainly fishermen and seaweed farmers. And with the recent influx of visitors, some of the local men make extra income by ferrying tourists to and from the islet, on the same small motorized boats that they use for fishing.

The soil is very sandy; it's like the whole place is actually a beach land. It's an elongated rock formation with a total area of about eight to ten hectares. At its widest part, you can walk from one side to the other in three to five minutes.

Coconut trees can be found, all standing so tall but bent, obviously from the constant blowing of the sea winds. In between are robust seafront-type trees, under which little children gather to play and where birds find a good place for nesting. Grass and shrubbery cover a large area of the islet grounds, enough to feed the good number of goats that frolic about.

Except for what looks like burnt skin and dry hair, the Gilutongan people are generally healthy. Little children roam around barefoot. The laughter of the women, gathering in groups while drying seaweed in the sun or doing laundry, can be heard from a distance. Nearby, at the shoreline, the men fix their boats or their fishing nets.

The small community of about 200 households is concentrated in the area where there is a shoreline. The rest of the islet is sided with rock overhangs that drop directly into the sea. These are the parts that divers love. The seawater is clear and the marine life is not so disrupted by human habitation. The boats that are dedicated to transporting guests to and from the islet are bigger and more stable, ideal for those who don't want to ruffle their clothes or their hair. But the adventurous may prefer to go on smaller boats that rock a little in the waves and allow for some salty splashes on the face and body. It's really fun and exciting.

The rat race of modern living can exact its toll on people who forget to take a time off from their busy routines. The office-bound executive, the engineer in the field, the factory worker, and even the ordinary housewife, all need to get off from their usual grinds every once in a while. It is no longer luxury to go to an isolated place, for a change of surroundings-for recharging essential energies, for healing worn body and spirit, for complete body-mind renewal. And it need not cost a lot of time and money. Gilutongan is a good place to consider.

There's a special package treat that includes boat rides to and from the islet, a sumptuous lunch at Wings Grill and Restaurant, use of flat-bottom boats for swimming, fresh water shower (a real rarity in any islet); plus nice extras like, for instance, a walking village tour for a close look at the simple ways and life of the island folk. (Call 255-0042 or 09159665873, for inquiries.)

For those who cannot resist the lure of the nearby marine sanctuary, entry to the protected area can be arranged. Snorkeling-gear rental is available at Wings. You can actually feed and swim with the tame sanctuary fishes, an experience many visitors go ecstatic about. Especially in the morning when the sunlight is just right, the view of the lush underwater life is simply breathtaking.

What I thought was just another writing assignment turned out to be quite a memorable short trip. My zest for life was again renewed. I had, once more, come face-to-face with awesome natural beauty. And the simplicity of life on the island was a reminder to me that a full, satisfying life is not always attained by trying to conquer the whole world.

My six hours or so in Gilutongan was a time in another world, so much fun yet so relaxing. I would have regretted it so much if I didn't go. (EMAIL: [email protected])